Usage Note
détenu is the past participle of détenir used as a noun. The feminine is détenue. It is the standard legal and administrative term for a person held in custody, preferred over prisonnier in official contexts. Un détenu politique is a 'political prisoner'. The abstract noun détention refers to the period or state of being held.
Examples
"Le détenu a été libéré ce matin."
Natural Translation
The prisoner was released this morning.
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